The new SPG Suite at The O2 – an outstanding non-travel redemption

UPDATE – JULY 2025:  This is an old article, and the credit card information given is likely to be out of date.

To learn about current credit card bonuses, benefits, terms and interest rate information, take a look at our directory of the top UK travel credit card offers – please click HERE or use the ‘Credit Cards’ menu above.  Thank you.

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Starwood Preferred Guest, the loyalty programme for Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien etc, has an interesting redemption option called SPG Moments.  This lets you use your points for tickets to sport, dining and cultural events around the world.

The UK arm of SPG Moments has had some good deals in the past –  I often got Cirque du Soleil tickets from it, for instance.

Over the last few months, however, SPG Moments has had little to offer.  This is because Live Nation, which worked with Starwood to put together many of these packages, began to work with Hilton instead.  I covered their new – and so far underwhelming – Hilton @Play scheme in this article.

SPG is fighting back.  It has taken a lease on a hospitality suite at the 02 in Greenwich and will be making the tickets available to Starwood Preferred Guest members.  The first batch have just gone up.  Dates are available until July although you need to adjust the search calendar to show results that far out.

Do you fancy seeing Paul McCartney in concert from a private suite at the 02, with hospitality?  Or Fleetwood Mac?  Mark Knopfler?  Take That?  Olly Murs?  Neil Diamond?  Or, erm, a darts tournament?

All of these are available for booking via the SPG Moments site.  Here is the best part – the cost is only 20,000 Starwood Preferred Guest points for two people.

As well as earning points at Starwood hotels, SPG is also an Amex transfer partner.  You can move your American Express Membership Rewards points to Starwood at a 2:1 ratio.

This means that the 30,000 points you get for signing up to American Express Platinum (review) would be almost enough for a pair of tickets.  You also receive 10,000 Starwood points (11,000 if referred) for taking out the Starwood Preferred Guest / Marriott Bonvoy American Express card (review).

I will be attending the Paul Simon and Sting concert next week as the guest of SPG.  (This is on a different night to the night being offered by SPG Moments.)  I will hopefully be able to get some photographs of the suite onto Head for Points over the next fortnight.

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How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (July 2025)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 15th July 2025, the sign-up bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is TRIPLED to 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. This would convert into 25,000 Avios or into 40 other airline schemes. It would also get you at least £300 of Marriott hotel stays based on our 0.5p per point low-end valuation. Other T&C apply and remain unchanged. Click here for our full card review and click here to apply.

You can apply here.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card

60,000 points (to 15th July) and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.

We reviewed The Platinum Card from American Express in detail here and you can apply here.

The Platinum Card from American Express

50,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

• American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• The American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

and for small business owners:

• The American Express Business Gold Card (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• The American Express Business Platinum Card (50,000 bonus Amex points)

The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points.